Casting target



June 113, 1950 P. COLALUCA 2,511,436

CASTING TARGET Filed July 29, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l TEE g1- I INVENTOR. p/7/ 0 60/0/0602 5 30 Z7 WW ATTORNEY June 13, 950 P. COLALUCA CASTING TARGET I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 29, 1947 l INVENTOR.

96/7/ 0 fa/a/uzw Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a casting target.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a casting target incorporating a plurality of fish models which will be progressively ejected from the target upon a series of casting plugs striking the target.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a casting target with means for simulating the striking action of a fish With respect to a casting plug.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a casting target of buoyant con-' struction capable of being positioned in a body of water and operative therein.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism for successively ejecting a plurality of fish models upon actuation as by a casting plug.

The casting target shown and described herein comprises an improvement over that shown in my Patent No. 2,343,002 of February 29, 1944, wherein a casting target is disclosed having a single fish model therein and a mechanism in association therewith for ejecting the single fish model at such time as a casting plug is received by the target mechanism.

The present invention relates to an improvement over that device in that a plurality of fish models are positioned in the target in connection with a mechanism for successively ejecting a fish model upon registry therewith of a casting plug or similar object.

It is well known that the art of casting is highly developed and many contests are had from time to time in which various types of targets are employed so that the accuracy of the cast may be determined by the registry of the casting plu with the target. In the past the targets have generally comprised ring-like structures supported on or slightly above the surface of the water over which the cast is made and visual inspection of the target area was continually necessary to determine whether or not the casting plug registered with the target area. a

The present invention relates to a device which may be positioned in a body of water in which a casting tournament is held and which will serve as a suitable target and, in addition, provide a realistic action easily observed from a distance at such time as a casting plug or similar object registers with the target. The action referred to is the forceful ejection of a fish model attached to the casting plug or other object so that it can be reeled in in the manner of a fish.

2 Claims. (Cl. 273102.1)

, which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of What is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

of one of the fish models employed in the device.

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on line B8 of Figure 3.

By referring to the drawings and Figures 1, 2

target has been disclosed which comprises a cylindrical body member [0 having a closed bottom section 5 l and provided at its uppermost end with a relatively large, semi-cone shaped flange l2. An upstanding flange I3 is formed on the periphery of the cone-shaped flange l2 and the upper edge thereof is adapted to be positioned above the surface of a body of Water in which the majority of the device is submerged.

A false bottom I4 is positioned in the upper end of the cylindrical body member ill on an annular shoulder l5 thereof to form in effect a continuation of the cone-shaped flange l2. An opening it is formed in the false bottom It at the lowermost point therein. The opening 16 is off-center with respect to the wall of the cylindrical body member l0. It will be observed that a casting plug or similar object cast successively into the area within the upstanding annular flange l2 and the false bottom 14 to the opening It.

By referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings it will be seen that there is a fish model ejecting mechanism disposed in the cylindrical body member ID and 50 arranged that one of the fish models is in registry with the opening it, being immediately therebeneath so that a cast- .With the foregoing and other objects in view ing plug or other object will move through the opening it and into the open mouth of the fish model. In Figure 3 of the drawings the fish model is in registry with the opening [6 and is indicated by the numeral IT. The fish model I! is shown in partially ejected position with respect to the opening l6. Its normal position prior to ejecting action by the mechanism is illustrated in Figure 4 and the fish model I! is shown in lowermost position with respect to the ejecting mechanism. A fishing line and plug are indicated in Figures 3 and 4 by the numerals l8 and i3, respectively.

By referring to Figure 7 of the drawings it will be seen that each of the fish models II has a hinged mouth section pivoted to the fish model H by a pivot 2i and normally spring urged to closed position by a spring 22. The mouth portion is held in open position, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 7 of the drawings, by a trigger member 23, one end of which frictionally engages a catch 24.

Still referring to Figure 7 of the drawings it will be seen that whe the casting plug l9 falls within the open mouth area of the fish model I! it will strike the trigger 23 and move the same from the catch 24, which action will permit the spring 22 to close the mouth 20 with respect to the open end of the fish model and over the plug 19 thus attaching the fish model I! to the plug l3 and the fishing line 18. When this occurs a secondary catch 25 moves into engagement with the wall of the fish model I! and holds the mouth portion 2a in closed position. The secondary catch 25 must be manually released to release the fish model I? from the plug l9.

By again referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings it will be seen that when the action just described occurs, the fish model I! (in position beneath the opening [6 in the casting target) is ejected therefrom by the ejecting mechanism which is actuated by the movement of the mouth portion 20 of the fish model as more fully described herein. The ejecting mechanism comprises a vertical shaft 26 affixed to a base 21 by means of a key 28. The base 21 rests upon the bottom H of the cylindrical body member "I. A rotatable disc 23 is positioned about theshaft 2B and on the upper surface of the base 21 so that it will rotate freely thereon. A plurality of radially spaced, outwardly extending arms are aihXed to the rotatable disc 29.

A hub 3| rotatably positioned on the uppermost end of the shaft 25 and has a plurality of radially spaced, outwardly extending arms 32. The outermost ends of the arms 30 and 32 are afiixed to one another by a plurality of guides 33, each of which are inclined slightly from vertical. A plurality of carriages 34 are slidably positioned one on each of the guides 33 and are normally urged upwardly thereon by springs 35, one of which is provided for each of the carriages. The springs 35 are affixed at their lowermost ends to the carriages 34 and at their uppermost ends to the arms 32. Each of the carriages34 has a catch 36 formed thereon which is adapted to register with a keeper 3! when the carriage 34 is in lowermost position on the guide 33. Each of the carriages 34 is adapted to hold one of the fish models l1.

Means isprovided for utilizing the motion of the mouth portion 20 of the fish model I! in the carriage 34 to release the keeper 31 and hence permit the spring 35 to move the carriage 34 upwardly rapidly and hence eject the fish model I! therefrom. In Figures-3, 6 and 8 of the drawings this means is disclosed as comprising a lever 38 positioned vertically along one side of the shaft 26 and pivoted midway between its ends by means of a pivot 39 to a bracket 4|] which in turn is affixed to the shaft 23 by means of a set screw 4|. The upper end of the pivoted lever 38 is normally positioned adjacent the mouth portion 20 of the fish model IT. The mouth portion 20 is so formed that a portio thereof moves outwardly and upwardly when it engages over a plug, as heretofore described. Such motion moves the upper end of the pivoted lever 38 and the lower end of the pivoted lever 38 engages one of the arms of the keeper 3'! moving it to release the carriage 34, as best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. A spring 42 is afilxed to the bracket 40 and to the hub 3| so that it will impart rotating motion'to the hub 3| and hence to the radially spaced arms 32 thereon and the plurality of guides 33 which depend therefrom. The spring 42 is preferably of the helical type and is wound by rotating the hub 3| 'wlien'the plurality of .fish models I! are positioned in'the ejecting. mechamsm.

As the fish models I! are ejected by the successive upward travel of the plurality of carriages 34, the m'eehanism rotates by reason of the presence of the spring 42 to present the neirt carriage 34 and fish model I! into alignment with the o ening l6.

Means for controlling the rotating movement is provided and is actuated by the carriages 34, each of which has a hook 43 formedon the inner side-thereof which is adapted to' engage and move a lever 44 when the carriage '34 rises upwardly as urged by thespring 35. The lever 44 is pivoted near its uppermost end by the pivot 39' to the bracket '40 arid the lowermost end'thereof engages a pawl 45 which is positioned on the rotatable disc 29 about the shaft 26 and aifixed to the rotatable disc '29 so as to revolve therewith. The pawl 45 and the relationship of the lever '44 thereto are best shown in Figures 5 and 18 of the drawmgs.

By referring to Figures 5 and 8 of the. drawings it will be seen that when the lever 44 is moved outwardly from engagement with the .pawl 45 as by the hook 43 striking the upper end of the lev'er44 when. the carriage34 is elevated, the entire fish model ejecting mechanism is freed and permitted to rotate until the lever 44 resets on the next step of the pawl 45. The nextstep on the pawl 45 corresponds with the positioning of the adjacent and subsequent carriage 34 andfish model I! thereby bringing the sameinto alignment with the opening 16 and in 'efiectresetting the device for subsequent operation. 7

A bracket is aifixed to theshaft 26' immediately above the pawl 45 and has a'bifureatedextension 41 thereon, the lower end of the lever normally lying in the bifurcated end section 41.

It will thus be seen that the fish ejecting mechanism comprises a number ofdden-tical carriages 34 each of which-has an-identically formed fish model 11 therein and that: the carriages"34 are mounted for vertical-travel on the-guides-z33 and are normally urged-upwardlyby thesprings- 35. It will alsobe seen that when the casting plug I9 drops through the'open-ing lt'of the'device and into the mouth area of the fish 'model H, the mouth 20 closes, andaszheretofore zde scribed, the closing motion moves the upperend of thepivoted lever 33=inward1y=which causes the lower end thereof to -move outwardly against'one arm of theke'epenfl' and-thereby cause the'oth'er arm thereof to move away from engagement with the catch 36 on the carriage 34 thus freeing the same and permitting it to move upwardly rapidly along the guide 33 as urged by the spring 35 thus ejecting the fish model I! upwardly through the opening N5 of the device. As this occurs, the hook :33 on the carriage 34 moves the lever G l momentarily out of engagement with the pawl 45 which permits the mechanism to revolve in a clockwise direction and thereby bring the next carriage 34 and fish model 11 into alignment with the opening 15. This action is repeated until the plurality of fish models [1 have been ejected. The device must then be manually reset for the next cycle of operation by removing the false bottom l4, replacing the fish models IT in the carriages 34 and depressing each of the carriages 34 so as to tension the spring 35. The entire assembly is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction sufficiently to wind up the helical spring 42 and the device is ready for the, next cycle of operation.

It will thus be seen that a casting target has been disclosed which will successively eject a number of fish models in response to the registry of a casting plug in the target area, and further that each of the fish models will remain affixed to the casting plug until it is manually released therefrom. The device is particularly adapted for casting competitions wherein a lively and life-like action is obtained which is readily visible at such time as a casting plug is caused to register in the target.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a casting target the combination of a hollow target member and mechanism positioned therein adapted to successively eject a plurality of fish models therefrom, each of the said fish models having a movable member, and means for closing the said movable member upon a casting plug, the said mechanism including means for successively moving a plurality of fish models into ejecting position and means for individually ejecting the said fish models, the sai electing means responsive in operation to movement 0'? the said movable member of the said fish model.

2. In a casting target the combination of a hollow target member and mechanism positioned therein adapted to successively eject a plurality of fish models therefrom, each of the said fish models having a movable member, and means for closing the said movable member upon a casting plug, the said mechanism including rotatable means for successively moving a plurality of fish models into ejecting position and vertically movable means for individually ejecting the said fish models, the said vertically movable means responsive in operation to movement of the said movable member of the said fish model.

PHILLIP COLALUCA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,237,678 Lohr Apr. 8, 1941 2,343,002 Colaluca Feb. 29, 1944 

